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Importing Fish, Fertilized Eggs, and

Gametes into the United States

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New import requirements for species susceptible to Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV) per

Federal Order DA-2019-01 (1.45 MB). More TiLV fish disease information can be

found at Aquaculture Health.
Live fish, fertilized eggs, and gametes of the species listed below may be imported

into the United States, provided they meet the following USDA import requirements:

1. Accompanied by an USDA import permit, AND

2. Accompanied by a veterinary export health certificate (issued by a full-time

veterinary officer or competent authority of the national government of the

exporting country), AND

3. Enter through, and undergo veterinary inspection at, a designated U.S. Port

(see list below).

Susceptible Species

Fish species susceptible to Spring Viremia of Carp (SVC):

Common carp, including koi carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Goldfish (Carassius auratus)

Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus)

Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)

Bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis)

Crucian carp (Carassius carassius)

Tench (Tinca tinca)

Sheatfish (Silurus glanis)

Fish species susceptible to Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV):

Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Commercial hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus x Oreochromis aureus)

Red hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis spp.)

Wild tilapia (Sarotherodon galilaeus)

How to Import Fish, Fertilized Eggs, and Gametes

USDA Import Permit
A USDA import permit must be used to import live fish, fertilized eggs, and gametes

from the SVC-susceptible species and TiLV-susceptible species listed above.  

1. Complete and submit the import application:

Importers may submit an online application for an import or transit permit for

APHIS-regulated live animals and their reproductive tissue (genetic resources)

using the VS Form 17-129 through the eFile system.

* Allow 7-10 business days to process a live animal import permit application.

** Also check with individual state(s) regarding specific laws for the species of

animal you wish to import **

2. Import permit accompanies shipment:

The original import permit is valid for thirty (30) days, and must

accompany all shipments of live fish, fertilized eggs, and gametes from

SVC-susceptible species and TiLV-susceptible species entering the United

States.

Veterinary Export Health Certificate

All regulated aquatic animal species (listed above) imported from any region of the

world must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by a salaried veterinarian

of the national government of the exporting region OR issued by a certifying official

and endorsed by the competent authority of that country (unless otherwise

indicated).

The health certificate must be written in English OR contain an official English

translation. The type of health certificate will depend on the regulated aquatic

animal species, disease they are susceptible to, and the region of export.

Fish Susceptible to Spring Viremia of Carp (SVC)

Model health certificate for Fish, Fertilized Eggs, and Gametes of SVC

Susceptible Species (253.86 KB)

If a country-specific health certificate is not listed below, shipments may

use either this model health certificate OR a health certificate that

contains ALL the information listed in the model health certificate.

Country-specific health certificates:
China – Health Certificate for Fish, Fertilized Eggs, and Gametes of SVCSusceptible Species from China (755.03 KB) – effective May 2023

England – Health Certificate for Fish, Fertilized Eggs, and Gametes of SVCSusceptible Species from England (755.8 KB) – February 2022

Japan – Health Certificate for Fish, Fertilized Eggs, and Gametes of SVCSusceptible Species from Japan (249.29 KB) – February 2023

Northern Ireland – Health Certificate for Fish, Fertilized Eggs, and Gametes

of SVC-Susceptible Species from Northern Ireland (756.76 KB) – February

2022

Scotland – Health Certificate for Fish, Fertilized Eggs, and Gametes of SVCSusceptible Species from Scotland (752.84 KB) – February 2022

Taiwan – Health Certificate for Fish, Fertilized Eggs, and Gametes of SVCSusceptible Species from Taiwan (301.92 KB) – October 2022

Wales – Health Certificate for Fish, Fertilized Eggs, and Gametes of SVCSusceptible Species from Wales (752.44 KB) – February 2022 

Fish Susceptible to Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV)

Model health certificate for Fish, Fertilized Eggs, and Gametes of Tilapia Lake

Virus (TiLV) – Susceptible Species (284.26 KB)

If a country-specific health certificate is not listed below, shipments may

use either this model health certificate OR a health certificate that

contains ALL the information listed in the model health certificate.

Country-specific health certificates:

England – Health Certificate for Fish, Fertilized Eggs, and Gametes of TiLVSusceptible Species from England (1.01 MB) – February 2022

Netherlands – Health Certificate for Health Certificate for Fish, Fertilized

Eggs, and Gametes of Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV) Susceptible Species from

the Netherlands (113.83 KB) – August 2020

Northern Ireland – Health Certificate for Fish, Fertilized Eggs, and Gametes

of TiLV-Susceptible Species from Northern Ireland (791.79 KB) – February

2022

Scotland – Health Certificate for Fish, Fertilized Eggs, and Gametes of TiLVSusceptible Species from Scotland (788.57 KB) – February 2022

Wales – Health Certificate for Fish, Fertilized Eggs, and Gametes of TiLVSusceptible Species from Wales (787.88 KB) – February 2022

Port Inspection
In addition to the USDA import permit AND veterinary export health certificate, all

imported live fish, fertilized eggs, and gametes from SVC-susceptible species and

TiLV-susceptible species must meet the following requirements at the U.S. port of

entry:

1. Shipment must only enter the United States through a designated port where

the USDA Veterinary Services (VS) personnel are available to process the

shipments.

Designated Ports for SVC-susceptible species

California: Los Angeles, Otay Mesa, San Francisco

Florida: Miami, Tampa

Georgia: Atlanta

Hawaii: Honolulu

Illinois: Chicago

Massachusetts: Boston

Michigan: Detroit

New Jersey: Newark

New York: Buffalo-Niagara, New York

Oregon: Portland

Puerto Rico: San Juan

Texas: Dallas-Fort Worth

Washington: Seattle, Sumas

Designated Ports for TiLV-susceptible species

California: Los Angeles, San Francisco

Florida: Miami, Tampa

Georgia: Atlanta

Hawaii: Honolulu

Illinois: Chicago

New Jersey: Newark

New York: New York

Puerto Rico: San Juan

Texas: Houston

Washington: Seattle

If live fish, fertilized eggs, and gametes attempt to enter the United States

through other, non-designated ports, they will be refused entry by the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel. 

2. Importers must notify the USDA Port Veterinarian seventy-two (72) hours in

advance of the expected arrival of the shipment, to ensure clearance

procedures may be expedited in a timely manner.

USDA Port Veterinarians may be contacted through their respective VS

Area Offices (Animal Imports Port List).

A User Fee will apply for port inspections of imported consignments.

All shipments must be accompanied by: 

Original valid import permit AND

Original endorsed veterinary export health certificate AND

Cleaning & Disinfection Certificate (if applicable)

Additional Information

Shipments Transiting the United States (154.75 KB)

Harmonized Tariff Structure (HTS) Import Codes (158.45 KB)

*Note: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and/or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration may

have additional import requirements for live aquatic animals. For more information

about U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service requirements, please contact them at your local

port of entry (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service – Authorized Ports of Entry) or visit their

website (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service – Information for Importers and Exporters). For

more information about U.S. Food and Drug Administration requirements, please

contact them via email at FDAImportsInquiry@fda.hhs.gov.

What You Need To Know

U.S. transits are classified as shipments presented to a U.S. port of entry for

conveyance purposes to then be transported to a destination country shortly

after. Notice Regarding APHIS Live Animal Import and Third-Country Import

Transit Permits (272.29 KB).

Please note that any animals and their germplasm transiting the United States

must not transit countries with questionable disease statuses prior to reaching

a U.S. port of entry.

All transits require a contingency plan. Please submit your contingency plan

with your permit application (VS 17-129 (106.94 KB)) to laipermits@usda.gov.
To submit an import permit electronically, visit APHIS eFile.

If you are applying to import live animals, semen, and embryos, you may submit

applications by email to laipermits@usda.gov

Questions?

Live Animal Import Permit Team

Contact APHIS' Live Animal Import Permit team if you have questions before you

apply for a permit.

For questions about import permits or permit applications:

Live Animal Import Permit Team

Email: laipermits@usda.gov

Phone: 301-851-3000

APHIS Port Services

For questions about import inspections at a port of entry, quarantine of animals

arriving from a foreign country, or requesting approval as a private animal import

quarantine facility, contact APHIS Port Services.

- Select a State - ▾

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Live Animal Import and Export

Contact APHIS' Live Animal Import and Export team for questions about current

trade restrictions, or other questions not related to permits.

For general questions related to the import of a live animal:
Live Animal Import and Export

Email: laie@usda.gov

Phone: 301-851-3300

All Contacts